Device for sealing grave-vaults.



No 760,454. PATENTED MAY 24, 1904.

' G. H. HISER.

DEVICE FOR SEALING GRAVE VAULTS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented May 24, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. HISER, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE SPRING- FIELD METALLIO CASKET COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, A (JOR- PORAITION OF OHIO.

DEVICE FOR SEALING GHAVE-VAULTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 760,454, dated May 24, 1904. Application filed April 6, 1904. Serial No. 201,854. on. model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LOHARLns H. Hrs ER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Sealing Grave-Vaults, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to metallic gravevaults, and especially to means for sealing the same.

Metallic grave-vaults are usually supplied with automatically-locking internal fastening devices which when once looked prevent the vault from being opened without destroying the same. It is desirable in vaults of this kind to seal them hermetically against air and water, and for this purpose they are often pro vided with laterally-extending flanges forming a channel to receive cement to cement-the 2o lid and body together. .Under certain condi' tions, depending somewhat on the character of the cement, it becomes difiicult to properly seal the casket when depending alone on the internal fastening devices. I have therefore provided means for positively forcing the lid downwardly onto the body ofthe casket, so as to bring the cover-flange on the cement in the cement-channel and compress the same therein, causing it to flow into all the crevices and completely seal the casket.

The invention consists in the constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an end view of a grave-vault equipped with my compressingclamps. Fig. 2 is a detail showing the compressing-clamp in engagement with the vaultcover. Figs. 3 and 4 show different positions assumed by the compressing-clamp when disengaged .from the vault-cover. Fig. 5 is a detail of a depressed seat formed in the coverflange.

Like parts are indicated by similar reference characters throughout the several views.

In said drawings, a represents the vaultbody, and a the lid thereof.

a is the flange forming the usual cementchannel about the upper edge of the body.

a is the flange of the lid a, adapted to cover the cement-channel.

At intervals along the sides and ends of the vault and below the flange a there are attached by rivets or otherwise a series of clips I), having extended ears Z). Between the ears I) of each of the clips I) there is pivoted a member c, which is offset at its respective ends, as

shown at c and The lower portion 0' is provided with a slot 0, and the upper projecting portion 0 is preferably screw-threaded to receive a compression-screw a. This constructi on permits this hinged member to swing up over the flange, while the connecting body portion of the member is at the side of the flange and brings the screw substantially over the pivotal connection. The flange a of the cover is preferably provided with a slight depression ll opposite each of these members to receive the end of the compression-screw d. The hinged member is also further preferably provided with an extended guard or finger 0*, which serves as a handle for readily operating the hinged member and also as a guard to the compression-screw (Z.

In operation the channel a having been filled with cement, the clamping members 0 are placed in the horizontal position (shown in Fig. 3) with the pivot in the end of the slot 0 farthest removed from the connecting-body. By reason of the location of the pivot and the extended portion of the clamps the clamps will remain in this horizontal position,(shown in Fig. 3,) the pivoted connection being in this case an eccentric one. placed in position with the flange a covering the cement-channel, afterwhich the clamps are swung to the vertical position (shown in Fig. 2) and with the screws engaging in the depressions in the top of the lid-flange. The clamping-screws are then adjusted to force the lid downwardly until the cement is pressed into all the crevices, thus tightly sealing the casket. By having the clamp arranged with the slotted opening 0 it will be seen that the clamp may be swung either above or below the pivotal point in a vertical position by causing the pivotal point and connection to be The lid is then moved from one end of the slot to the other, or it can be placed in horizontal position convenient for adjustment when the vault is to be sealed. Inasmuch as these lids are never placed in their final position until the vault is to be sealed, owing to the internal automatic clamping devices, the normal position of the clamps when not in use will be the lower vertical position, as indicated in Fig. 4.

It will be seen that by the construction described a simple and at the same time a very effective and convenient device is provided.

Having thus described my invention, I claim p 1. In a grave-vault, the combination with a body having a cement-channel and a lid for said body having a flange adapted to cover said channel, of a clamp for said parts consisting of a member pivoted to said body portionof said vault, a screw in said pivoted member adapted to engage and bear upon the coverfiange, substantiallyas specified.

2. In combination with a grave-vault, a cover, a clamping device consisting of a pivoted' member having a slotted pivotal connection, and a clamping member carried by said pivoted member, substantially as specified.

3. In combination with a grave-vault, a cover-clamp, consisting of a pivoted member, a slot in said member for the reception of the pivot, whereby the pivotal point of said member may be varied, 'and a screw carried by said pivoted member, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In combination with a grave vault, a cover-clamp consisting of a pivoted member having ofiset ends, a slot in one end of said member for the reception of the pivot, and a screw in the other end of said member to form a clamping device, and a projecting finger adjacent to said clamping screw, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 

